Robert C. Lane

PRIVATE ROBERT C. LANE was born in Camden NJ on January 23, 1919. The Lane family then lived at 438 South 5th Street in Camden. His parents divorced around 1929. In 1930 he was living with his father, Wilmer Russell Lane and two brothers at the home of his grandparents, Albion R. Lane and Nevada S. French Lane at 101 Ardmore Avenue, Collingswood NJ. His father ran a butter and egg business that the grandfather had founded. Russell Lane re-married, and the family business was still operating into the war years. By the time Robert Lane entered the service, his parents were living at 100 E. Wayne Terrace in Collingswood NJ. He was a 1938 graduate of Collingswood High School. In his yearbook he stated that his likes were "Football, femmes, and swing music" and his dislikes were "Matinee idols and studies".

After high school Robert Lane found worked at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Camden NJ, riding a bus to work each day with classmate John McLaughlin.

Robert Lane entered the army at Fort Dix NJ on April 6, 1942. He was sent to Sea Girt NJ the next day, Fort Monmouth NJ on April 20, and to Fort Indiantown Gap PA on July 3, 1942. He shipped out to England on July 29, 1942.

Private Lane took part in the invasion of North Africa, landing near Casablanca on November 8, 1942. He was killed in action on April 30, 1943 in fighting near Hill 609 in Tunisia. He was survived by his father, stepmother Mrs. Lillian Lane, parents and two brothers, Albion R. and Milton V. Lane, a step-brother, and an uncle, Forrest Lane.

Robert Lane was brought home in the spring of 1948. On June 23, 1948 he was buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden NJ.

Robert Lane's great-grandfather, Charles M. Lane, and two great-great-uncles, Barton Lane and James M. Lane, served with the Camden Fire Department at different times during the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s.

COURIER-POST
Camden NJ Moday June 21, 1943

MONDAY. JUNE 21, 1943
FIGHTING OVER THERE,
STRIKING OVER HERE

"I'm not angry if it's the 29th of April or not, but I know that yesterday was Easter and we had church services while the guns roared."
"Gee how I hate to read about the people going on strike in the U.S.A..... if they knew the sacrifices the boys have made they wouldn't do such things."
"You know Mom, I've been trying to save those good socks you sent me, hoping I might wear them when I get back... but I'm afraid I'll have to say goodbye because the big guns are roaring again and we are going into action..."

      Remember when Bob Lane, of Collingswood, wrote from North Africa? Twelve hours after he wrote that letter he was dead. Killed in "action".
      He won't get home to wear those good socks his Mom sent him/ He won't know about the latest mine crisis/ He won't write home again.
      The Courier-Post receives a great many letters from men and women in the armed forces. Parents have shown us letters, too, from their sons and daughters. Through 99 percent of those letters runs just one complaint:
      Not about what is happening to the writers, but protest against the strikes which sabotage the war on the home front.

John L. Lewis has said that he doesn't give a damn for public opinions. No doubt that he doesn't give a damn, either, for the opinion of war servicemen. But this constant threat of a mine strike, with consequent stoppage of war production, has hung over the nation's head like a sword of Damocles. And it doesn't take a fortune teller to predict how the boys and girls are going to feel when they come home from Guadalcanal, Attu, North Africa, and countless other fronts.

They're going to remember the Bob Lanes who died in action (salary $50 per month) while here at home John L. Lewis was leading his miners to defiance of their government, to obstruction of the war programs- because they were impatient with government arbitration of a wage dispute

Robert Carlton Lane

Private, U.S. Army

32264576

Camden Courier-Post June 2, 1943


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*Camden Courier-Post October 13, 1943**